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Gallery: What’s New in Sweets
Category enhancement and reinvention often comes into view through product innovations scheduled to be seen at Expo West. Here’s a look at the latest products that companies plan to use to redefine sweeter snacks options, across bars, cookies and confection.
Smart Sweets
Low-sugar candy brand Smart Sweets is expanding its platform of low-sugar candy favorites with Sweet Chews available in Mango, Watermelon and Strawberry. Each 1.6oz bag of individually-wrapped chews contains 3g of sugar and 120 calories with 10g of fiber.
Thinsters
Crunchy cookie brand Thinsters will launch an Oat Milk Cookie, the company’s only gluten-free offering thus far. Also vegan and low in sugar, the cookies use homemade oat milk as a natural sweetener. The product will be available this summer with an MSRP of $5.99 per 7oz package.
SkinnyDipped
Sweet-dipped nut brand SkinnyDipped will launch Chocolate Dipped Cashews in Dark Chocolate Cocoa and Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel, its first portfolio expansion beyond almonds. The brand is marketing the product, which carries a $4.99 MSRP, as a fiber rich, protein-enhanced, low-sugar product.
Lily's Sweets
Sugar-free chocolate brand Lily’s Sweets is launching a line of White Chocolate Bars in White Chocolate, Cookies & Creme and Birthday Cake flavors. After receiving an investment from VMG in 2018 and doubling its business, the brand has expanded its offerings and rebranded, aiming to reach a more mainstream audience.
Buddha Brands
Snack and beverage company Buddha Brands launched Hungry Buddha Keto Bars in three flavors: Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cocoa, and Espresso Brownie. The bars, which contain MCT oil and sunflower seed butter, have 9g of protein, 2g or less of sugar and 4g net carbs, and are available on Amazon and will enter Meijer and Wegmans in April and May, respectively.
Thinsters
Gluten-free cookie brand Goodie Girl’s new ‘Homestyle’ line — iconic cookie recipes with simple ingredients — launched this month at Whole Foods with oat flour-based Chocolate Chip and Pecan Shortbread cookies. The oat flour not only provides a smooth, gluten-free base, but adds a nutty flavor, the brand said.
BranchOut
After launching its AvoLov Avocado chips in 2019, the company has taken the concept and expanded it under new brand BranchOut. The line will feature reformulated Avocado Chips and slices, along with its first sweet extensions: chewy Banana Bites in Cinnamon Churro, Strawberry, and Original and Pineapple Chips.
Belgian Boys
Indulgent treat brand Belgian Boys will expand its lineup with Belgian Chocolate Cookie Bars, Almond Butter Cakes and Chocolate Caramel as well as Raspberry Cookie Tarts. The products are made with real sugar and butter, and come in single serve packaging -- for what the brand calls “reasonable indulgence.”
HU
Vegan, paleo-friendly chocolate brand HU is hoping to reach convenience-seeking consumers and drive trial via new Miniature Bars, which will launch in Cashew Butter + Pure Vanilla Bean and Dark Chocolate, and single-serve Cashew Hunks. The brand is sold in 3,500 stores including Whole Foods, Sprouts and The Fresh Market.
Made in Nature
Organic snack brand Made in Nature is launching a plant-based fudge in Almond Sea Salt, Peanut Butter and Raspberry flavors. The product is made without added sugar or fats, instead using organic cacao sweetened with fruit.
Kodiak Cakes
Kodiak Cakes will add a new line of Crunchy Granola Bars to its protein-enhanced portfolio, which also includes new breakfast innovations. The bars, which have 10g of protein per serving, will be sold in six-pouch multipacks for $4.99 each in Chocolate Chip, Maple & Brown Sugar, Peanut Butter and Oat & Honey flavors. The product will launch next month.
Earnest Eats
Superfood brand Earnest Eats will launch a new Sensational Hemp Almond Butter Bar with 25mg of full spectrum hemp oil, 6g of protein and 4g of fiber -- a cannabidiol (CBD)-enhanced version of its Soft Baked Almond Butter Bar. The bar is available in Choco Peanut Butta, with other flavors coming soon, and will retail for $3.99 per bar.
